Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we’re joined by Richard Olaotan, co-founder of AutiMark, an AI-powered SEO agency helping brands transform their websites into true revenue-generating assets. Richard shares how he began as a web designer, only to realize that even the most beautiful websites fail without visibility. That turning point led him deep into the world of SEO, where he spent over 16 years mastering search strategy, content systems, and conversion-focused optimization.

Today, Richard leads a growing international team delivering AI-driven SEO, authority link building, and strategic content frameworks for B2B SaaS, e-commerce, and service-based businesses. With consistent five-figure monthly revenues and ambitions to scale into eight figures, AutiMark is doubling down on AI search optimization, operational efficiency, and deeper client relationships. This episode is a powerful look at how modern SEO is evolving — and what it really takes to turn traffic into measurable business growth.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we’re joined by Samantha Ferguson, founder of Barry Wellness, a certified women’s health coach helping women overcome bloating, exhaustion, hormone imbalances, and frustrating fat loss plateaus. Samantha shares how her own journey through yo-yo dieting and body frustration led her into the world of nutrition coaching — and eventually into a deeper, root-cause approach focused on metabolic health, gut function, and hormone balance. What began as macro-based coaching evolved into a functional health model designed to help women feel seen, heard, and truly supported.

Samantha breaks down her Root Cause Roadmap™, a structured framework that prioritizes healing in the right sequence — starting with metabolism, then gut health, and finally hormones — instead of chasing surface-level symptoms. She opens up about running a one-woman coaching business, building trust through educational content and diagnostic-style quizzes, and navigating the challenges of lead generation and sales with integrity. With a milestone six-figure year behind her and ambitious growth ahead, Samantha shares her vision for expanding into group programs, mentoring other coaches, and scaling her impact without sacrificing the personalized care that defines Barry Wellness.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we’re joined by Allie Barton, founder of Phoenix Wellness, a high-touch online coaching practice helping busy moms lose fat, build strength, and reclaim confidence without burnout. Allie shares her deeply personal journey—from battling drug addiction in her twenties and becoming a single mom, to overcoming postpartum depression, rebuilding her health, and transforming her life through strength training and nutrition. What began as a weight-loss goal evolved into something far more powerful: a commitment to helping women become strong, capable, and confident—not smaller, but stronger.

Allie opens up about launching her business while raising two young children, the lessons she learned working as an assistant coach, and why she ultimately rebranded to Phoenix Wellness—a reflection of rising from the ashes of her past. Today, she offers highly individualized one-on-one coaching rooted in habit-building, macro tracking, functional health, and mindset work. With an intentionally capped client roster, organic lead generation, and a focus on authenticity over scale, Allie is building a purpose-driven business designed for impact, alignment, and long-term transformation—for both her clients and herself.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we’re joined by Shelli K. Spence, LinkedIn strategy coach and founder of Shelli on Social, who helps executives, consultants, and seasoned professionals turn their career expertise into high-converting personal brands. After spending most of her career as a mortgage executive, Shelli began building her LinkedIn presence while working in government—originally planning to transition into mortgage consulting. But when industry shifts forced an unexpected pivot, the brand she had built gave her optionality, clarity, and a new path forward: teaching others how to do the same.

Shelli shares her “attract and convert” framework, starting with profile optimization before ever focusing on posting, and explains why most professionals miss inbound opportunities by skipping foundational positioning. Through intimate group cohorts and one-on-one coaching, she teaches strategic content, commenting, and authority-building without relying on cold DMs or vanity metrics. With clear revenue goals, plans to expand her ecosystem, and a strong belief in building personal brand equity before you need it, Shelli breaks down how LinkedIn can become a long-term asset—not just a social platform, but a career insurance policy.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Natalie Borovska, we’re joined by Imani Powell, holistic wellness strategist and founder of New Life Health & Wellness, to explore how corporate wellness needs a serious rethink. Imani shares how her journey began in medicine, following in her father’s footsteps, before discovering major gaps between traditional healthcare, fitness, nutrition, and preventative wellness. What started as a side venture during medical school quickly evolved into a mission-driven company focused on integrating physical, mental, and holistic health into organizational culture.

Imani dives into her transition from B2C coaching to serving B2B and B2G clients, working with corporations, nonprofits, and school districts to build sustainable in-house wellness systems. Rather than acting as a middleman provider, her firm empowers organizations to create their own long-term wellness frameworks — cutting costs, increasing utilization, and driving cultural change from within. She also shares insights on modern lead generation, AI-powered outreach, pricing strategy, and her 2026 vision: educating leaders so thoroughly that they won’t need third-party wellness providers ever again.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Olivia Sammons, we’re joined by Justine Beauregard, Sales Process and Conversion Expert, to explore how entrepreneurs can close more sales without pressure, scripts, or outdated tactics. Justine shares how her entrepreneurial journey began in childhood, inspired by strong female role models, and evolved through startup life into building a high-impact coaching and strategy business. Her mission? To completely rewrite the sales playbook for modern entrepreneurs.

Justine breaks down her philosophy that fast sales aren’t forced — they’re aligned. She explains how positioning, messaging, and ethical sales systems allow experts to stand out, close confidently, and build sustainable growth without feeling pushy or performative. From her innovative Virtual Speed Networking events to her “do less better” mantra, Justine reveals how simplifying your focus can actually increase revenue, impact, and freedom. If you’re ready to rethink sales and scale in flow — this episode is for you.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we sit down with Jennifer Whitted, also known as the Hormone Reset Coach, to explore how she transformed her personal perimenopause journey into a thriving online coaching business. After 20 years in pharmacy, Jennifer found herself frustrated with a healthcare system that offered more prescriptions instead of lifestyle solutions. Feeling unheard and “gaslit,” she committed to learning how nutrition, strength training, nervous system regulation, and hormone balance could create lasting change—not just for herself, but for other high-achieving women navigating midlife transitions.

Today, Jennifer runs a primarily one-on-one online coaching program, guiding women through a 90-day hormone reset designed to reduce inflammation, balance cortisol, heal the gut, and build sustainable strength—without starvation or burnout. She shares insights on scaling with a small but aligned team, leveraging social media as her primary marketing engine, pricing for commitment and results, and overcoming imposter syndrome while building authority in a booming functional health space. With plans to expand into community-building and in-person retreats, Jennifer’s mission is clear: create generational change for women who want their health to match their ambition.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Olivia Sammons, Stefani Havel, Founder of Sales Strategy Network, shares her transition from a 25-year corporate career in finance, mortgage, and banking to building her own sales training and leadership consultancy. After her corporate role was unexpectedly eliminated, Stefani chose to leverage her experience leading high-performing teams—including moving one team from #129 to #19 in a Fortune 500 company—and channel it into helping small to mid-sized businesses master the psychology of sales. She breaks down her proprietary “CONVERT” sales framework, emphasizing connection, trust-building, behavioral awareness through DiSC, and replacing rigid scripts with authentic, values-driven conversations.

Stefani dives into how she supports entrepreneurs and sales teams who are confident in their craft but uncomfortable selling it. From customized coaching and roleplay training to launching her new 8-week online sales course, she’s focused on scalable impact while maintaining authenticity and structure. She also reflects on the challenges of entrepreneurship—from tech hurdles to marketing strategy—and shares her guiding advice: gain clarity, focus on what you do best, and stop chasing every shiny object. It’s a candid and insightful conversation on leadership, reinvention, and building confidence in sales without sacrificing integrity.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Olivia Sammons, Dr. Alexander McWilliam, Founder and Managing Director of Improv for Business, shares how he transitioned from a trained actor into a specialist in communication, presentation skills, and public speaking anxiety. Drawing on his background in performance and his PhD research focused on public speaking anxiety and performing under pressure, Alex explains how he identified a clear gap in the corporate world—brilliant professionals who lack the confidence and communication tools to present effectively. What began as casual coaching between acting gigs evolved into a highly specialized consultancy blending performance psychology with improvisation to help leaders and teams communicate with clarity and impact.

Alex dives into how Improv for Business works with both executives and teams through tailored assessments, customized training programs, and practical improv-based techniques that unlock confidence and authenticity. He discusses the power of focusing on a clear niche rather than spreading too thin, the importance of visibility in a crowded market, and why scaling is ultimately a numbers game rooted in persistence and adaptability. The episode closes with powerful advice for founders: compare yourself only to who you were yesterday—not to anyone else’s highlight reel—and build from there.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Olivia Sammons, we sit down with Desmond Jack, founder of 2M Performance, a Hawaii-based fitness and performance coaching company rooted in discipline, systems, and sustainable execution. A former U.S. Army infantry officer with more than 20 years of leadership experience, Desmond shares how his military background shaped his approach to coaching—focusing less on motivation and more on structured systems that remove decision fatigue and build consistent habits. His philosophy centers on closing the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it, especially when life gets busy or chaotic.

Desmond opens up about the transition from military authority to entrepreneurship, where influence must replace rank and every client requires a tailored approach. He discusses building both online and in-person coaching models, relying primarily on referrals for growth, and navigating the challenges of scaling as a solopreneur in a saturated fitness market. With a long-term vision of creating a collaborative, “barbershop-style” space where independent trainers can grow together while serving their own clients, Desmond is building more than a coaching brand—he’s creating a performance-driven community designed for long-term impact.